La Jara- Longtime La Jara resident Mildred Peterson, 99, passed away at the Rio Grande Inn. Mildred was born October 9, 1915 to Richard and Myrl Tavers in New Hampton, Iowa. Richard passed away while Mildred was young and her mother remarried to Roy Turney who adopted and raised Mildred as his own. Later in her life Mildred met R. Wade Peterson whom she eloped with in Taos, New Mexico. They spent many happy years together until his unfortunate passing in 1997.
Mildred was an active woman that enjoyed life to its fullest. She loved to bowl, and was still bowling strikes at the age of 90. On top of being an excellent bowler, Mildred also spent her free time playing bridge and was a member of many local bridge clubs. When she wasn’t busy playing some of her favorite games she loved to grow and care for beautiful flowers especially her favorite flower, the iris. When it got too cold to garden it wasn’t uncommon to find her sitting inside rooting on her favorite hockey team the Colorado Avalanche.
Mildred is survived by her son, Alan (Susie) Peterson of La Jara Colorado and her Grandsons; Aaron W. Peterson, Michael W. Peterson, and Dylan Behrmann as well as her brother, Richard Turney of Colorado Springs.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, R. Wade Peterson. Her Daughter, Roberta Myers, her sister, Dorothy Clark and her parents, Roy and Myrl Turney.
A visitation will be held Wednesday January 14 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Rogers Family Mortuary in Manassa with a funeral service to follow at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow services at the Sanford Cemetery.